PARASITES AND PARASITIC DISEASES OF DOGS 



pockets, local destruction of the true skin or dermis takes place, 

 and, according to some investigators, some mites now wander out 

 of the hair follicles and may even enter the subcutaneous tissues. 

 The numerous pustules run together and the skin becomes thickened 

 and so seriously weakened from disease that it is highly susceptible 

 to injury from rubbiug or contact with various objects. The odor 

 is very unpleasant. There is little or no itching in this stage. The 

 absorption of toxic products from bacteria and diseased skin tissue 

 serves to poison the entire system ; bacteria may enter the blood stream, 

 causing generalized infection; the bodily functions are deranged; the 

 animal becomes emaciated and weak, and unless the disease is checked 

 the dog dies in a very pitiable condition. 



The disease usually runs a very slow course, commonly for months, 

 and sometimes up to 2 years or longer. In rare cases there is sponta- 

 neous cure. 



Treatment. — The subject of treatment for demodectic mange is 

 still a controversial matter. Some competent veterinarians report 

 a large measure of 

 success in treating 

 this disease, but 

 others find treat- 

 ment generally un- 

 satisfactory and 

 will not undertake 

 it. In advanced 

 cases of pustular 

 mange destruction 

 of the animals is 

 commonly recom- 

 mended. In gen- 

 eral, the treatment 

 of such cases is such 

 a long, costly, and 

 tedious affair, and 

 so often ends in f aUure to obtain a cure, that the owners of the dogs are 

 dissatisfied. This is especially true because dogs usually are not 

 brought in for treatment until the disease reaches the pustular stage. 

 After a few experiences of this sort the veterinarian prefers to avoid 

 trouble with his clients and the presence of such unpleasant and unpro- 

 fitable patients. When the treatment is left to the owner it frequently 

 happens that he wearies of carrying out the prolonged treatment, 

 forgets it from time to time or finds it inconvenient to attend to 

 it, or neglects details and thoroughness. Even if he carries it out 

 conscientiously, failure to cure is not an uncommon result, as much 

 depends, apparently, on the condition and resistance of the individual 

 animal. The senior author cured one case of extensive simple depila- 

 tory mange in a dog by the daily application of a mixtm-e of olive 

 oil 100 cubic centimeters, chloroform 30 cubic centimeters, and thymol 

 5 grams, but it required 100 treatments. In spite of sentimental 

 considerations, few dog owners would care to carry out a treatment 

 of this magnitude, especially in view of the fact that failure would 



SQSfil"— 34 2 



Figure 6. — Dog with demodectic mange, pustular form. 



